Western press sidesteps content of Arab League Observer Mission report

The international media sees the press conference of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem as the validation of their remarks yesterday regarding the decisions of the Arab League’s Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee (extension of the observer mission and proposal of a roadmap) and their partial rejection by Damascus.

None, however, has informed its readers about the actual content of the AL Observer Mission report, which explicitly denies there has ever been a bloody crackdown on peaceful demonstrations. Following in the footsteps of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, they all continue to relay the fabrications of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights without ever questioning its legitimacy, its methodology or credibility. Consequently, the media misconstrued the words of Mr. Moallem - that the Syrian state will discharge its responsibilities for protecting the population against armed groups - as the announcement of an escalation of political repression.